Caroline Whisonant, 18, of Winnfield has been named High School State Honoree recipient for Louisiana’s top youth volunteers of 2020 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. As a State Honoree, Caroline will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where she and  Middle Level State Honoree Kierce Smith, 12, of Baton Rouge will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2020. 

According to an article on Yahoo Finance website, Caroline, a senior at Winnfield Senior High School, was nominated for the award by Winn Parish 4-H. She is recognized for developing an educational program to teach elementary school children about the danger of opioid drugs and help them develop the skills to avoid all forms of substance abuse. Caroline was motivated to start her program after a classmate died from an opioid overdose. “Seeing the empty seat next to me in my math class where [he] sat, I felt it was important to take immediate action in educating children at an early age on the opioid epidemic,” she said.

Caroline began by researching the epidemic and kid-friendly educational activities. She recruited fellow 4-Hers to help her plan a curriculum, and then met with first-, second- and third-grade teachers to arrange times to work with their students. In 45-minute sessions, Caroline leads the kids in hands-on activities, role-playing scenarios, and games and songs, all designed to teach them skills in goal-setting, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and decision-making. Approximately 200 kids have taken part in the program so far. “Ultimately, I want students to learn that a drug is a chemical used to treat, cure or prevent sickness, but some drugs can make you sick if you abuse them,” said Caroline. She also drafted a piece of state legislation that would address the role of education in combating the opioid epidemic. In addition, Caroline is planning a summer day camp for young students, and a pill drop-off box in her community so that unused drugs can be disposed of safely.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, now in its 25th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Winn Parish fisherman Aubrey Hyde placed fifth out of 123 Co-anglers that competed in the FLW Toyota Series at Toledo Bend Reservoir fishing tournament last weekend. 

According to Hyde, he finished the tournament with a three-day total of 27 pounds 11 ounces of bass in two days with a five-fish limit each day. “I was the Co-Angler in the lead after day two of the tournament but failed to catch anything on the third day which moved me down to 5th place.”

“A friend invited me to this tournament and I didn’t expect to do that well,” said Hyde. “I just wanted to check it out and see what all the hype was about. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot from the pros I was paired with.”

The Toyota Series on Toledo Bend Reservoir was hosted by the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission. 

“I would like to encourage anyone who enjoys bass fishing to join FLW and register to be a co-angler in future tournaments. It offers fishermen like me opportunities to learn more about fishing from great fishermen, expressed Hyde.”

The development of American Sign Language (ASL), the communication within the Deaf community, was inspired by a preacher’s desire to share the Gospel message of Jesus with a Deaf child, Rotarians heard at their Jan. 29 meeting here in Winnfield.

Diane Holeman explained that Rev. Thomas Gallaudet heard that work was underway in Europe on a communication system to help the Deaf speak to the hearing world and he traveled to France in 1814 where he cooperated with Laurent Clerc to open his own understanding. That basis in-hand, he returned to the States and combined it with sign language used by Native Americans to communicate with traders to create ASL.

Gallaudet would go on to establish the American School for the Deaf.
Hearing people are often reluctant to interact with the Deaf because of their own inhibitions…”how do I communicate?” Mrs. Holeman suggested ways of opening that line of communication in the workplace as well as in social settings. It all begins with learning the manual alphabet (finger-spelling). Learning the how-to of that alphabet and other communication signs is readily available in books at the library and online.

Mrs. Holeman herself was first inspired to study the field in school when, as a child, she observed her cousin Nancy who is Deaf, silently communicating so easily with her family. While she received her degree in Speech Therapy at LSU, marriage and family sidetracked her Masters-level study in ASL.
But she said the Lord opened that door when she served as children’s minister at First Baptist Church and a music program incorporating ASL was launched. She now serves as one of several ASL interpreters at East Winnfield Baptist Church where there is a Deaf ministry.

Kim Nation from the Baby Safe Sleep Alliance of Winn Parish spoke to the Kiwanis club Monday, January 27, 2020. The infant mortality rate is at an all time high in Louisiana for the years 2015-17. In 2018 there were 7.82 deaths per 1000 live births. There are 9 regions in Louisiana and we are in region 6 which had 8.93 deaths per 1000 live births. This was the fifth highest so this region is in the middle. They would like the number to be 6 deaths per 1000 live births or lower.

SIDS is sudden infant death syndrome. There is no obvious reason for the death and it is recorded as SIDS on the death certificate. SUIDS is sudden unexpected infant death and is usually due to asphyxiation or suffocation. The leading cause is unsafe sleep. Where does the baby sleep? A rock and play is unsafe for sleep. Nation passed around personal pictures showing unsafe ways for babies to sleep. Suffocation is the leading cause of death in Louisiana.

All of these recommendations have evolved over the years and what used to be done is no longer done. Babies should be placed on their backs, not on their stomach. They should not sleep with adults, other children, real or stuffed animals. Babies should not sleep with anyone on a sofa or recliner where the adult is holding the baby. Soft surfaces are not good. You should not have bumper pads in the cribs nor comforters. Overheating is not good for babies. You should not smoke around babies and they should be in a smoke-free environment.

The Baby Safe Sleep Alliance is giving out Safe Sleep Pack and Play Cribs and accessory kits. If the mother expresses a need she can get one. There is an education class that expectant mothers can attend taught by first responders or healthcare professionals and then the mother can receive this crib. They are also available in cases of emergency that first responders and other trained personnel respond to. The packs are free of charge as long as you attend a Safe Sleep Training. Fundraisers raise money. There could be grants available in the future. The monies are dispersed through the United Way.

This article is written and provided by the Kiwanis Club

Thursday, February 13, 2020, at 12:00 PM at the Winn Parish Library in Winnfield, LA The Winn Parish Healthy Initiatives Coalition will host a training facilitated by Maegan D’Autremont with the Children’s Advocacy Center. 

If you have a child 11 years old or older with any social media account, they have already been targeted by human traffickers! Please join us for an extremely informational discussion revealing how our children are targeted, what risks exist in our community and how you can protect your child. This discussion should be a “MUST” attend if you are around children for any period of time. School officials, youth directors and pastors should all consider attending. You should know how to identify a possible trafficked individual and how to handle the situation when you do. We want to protect our future and look forward to sharing this with you.

Please RSVP to Kimberly Nation @ 318-729-6756 Refreshments will be served.

Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office
Name: Dale E. Keeney
Date: 1-29-20
Time: 5:13 PM
Address: Joyce, LA
Race: W
Sex: M
Age: 32
Charge: Simple Criminal Damage to Property, Theft < $1000
Bond: $15,000

Name: Jerode L. Nash
Date: 1-30-20
Time: 1:45 AM
Address: St. Maurice, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 34
Charge: Failure to Appear
Bond: WPDC hold for NPSO

Name: Catavin M. Gray
Date: 1-30-20
Time: 1:15 PM
Address: WPDC
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 28
Charge: Probation Warrant
Bond: Probation and Parole Hold

Name: Rodney Fowler
Date: 2-1-20
Time: 8:30 AM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 52
Charge: Failure to Appear City of Winnfield
Bond: None Listed

Name: Clarence M. Barton
Date: 2-2-20
Time: 2:00 PM
Address: WPDC
Race: W
Sex: M
Age: 50
Charge: Self Mutilation by a Prisoner
Bond: None Listed

Name: Brandon B Humphries
Date: 2-2-20
Time: 9:50 AM
Address: Alexandria, LA
Race: W
Sex: M
Age: 46
Charge: Failure to Appear
Bond: $2,500

Winnfield Police Department
Name: Edgar Rogers
Date: 1-29-20
Time: 4:37 AM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 60
Charge: Disturbing the Peace
Bond: Issued Summons

Name: Derrick Thompson
Date: 1-29-20
Time: 9:40 AM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: W
Sex: M
Age: 40
Charge: Theft > $1000, Criminal Trespass, Theft < $1000, Criminal Trespass, Aggravated Burglary, Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felson
Bond: $42,500

Name: Glenard K. Carter
Date: 1-29-20
Time: 10:44 PM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 20
Charge: Theft < $1000
Bond: None Listed

Name: Frankie L. Wilson
Date: 1-30-20
Time: 3:31 AM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: F
Age: 55
Charge: Domestic Abuse, Battery
Bond: $5,000

Name: Rodney Fowler
Date: 2-3-20
Time: 8:52 AM
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: B
Sex: M
Age: 52
Charge: Failure to Appear
Bond: None Listed

WINN:
Jerry Clyde Holden
June 19, 1949 – February 03, 2020
Service: Wednesday, February 5 at 11 am at Transport Cemetery

NATCHITOCHES:
Margaret Pauline Holland Chesser
December 15, 1941 – February 1, 2020
Visitation: Thursday, February 6 from 5-9 pm at Trinity Baptist Church, located at 527 Howard Street in Natchitoches
Service: Friday, February 7 at 10 am at Trinity Baptist Church
Interment: Ramah Cemetery in Ashland

Marshall Martin Hearne, III
December 3, 1944 – February 1, 2020
Service: Saturday, February 8 at 2 pm at Highland Park Cemetery near Sicily Island

Johnnie Calvin Emmons, Jr.
November 22, 1928 – February 1, 2020
Service: Thursday, Feb. 6 at 5 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church in Natchitoches

Fannie Rachal LaCour
July 18, 1926 – February 1, 2020
Service: Saturday, February 8 at 11 am at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Natchitoches
Interment: St. Augustine Catholic Mausoleum in Isle Brevelle

Otis Cook
February 1, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Hiram Phillips, Jr.
November 7, 1984 – January 27, 2020
Arrangements TBA
Larry “Thigh-Thigh” Batiste
September 3, 1978 – January 27, 2020
Arrangements TBA

SABINE:
Vollie “Liz” Anders
December 12, 1948 – February 2, 2020
Service: Wednesday, February 5 at 2 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Cedar Grove Cemetery

Robert H. Meadows
April 12, 1941 – February 1, 2020
Service: Wednesday, February 5 at 10 am at Siloam Baptist Church